Prepared for Sabbath School Class on August 1.
Photograph by William Earnhardt
Key Text: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV).
Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 8:-13.
Study: Why does Paul contrast knowledge with love, and what is the context here? What point is he making?
Apply: Paul argues that, without love, knowledge may become a bad thing (1 Corinthians 8). In what situations can knowledge without love indeed be bad?
Share: Your friend asks if Paul says we were not to make an issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, then why is it condemned in Revelation 2:20 in the message to Thyatira? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 9:1-6.
Study: How does this passage provide a practical example of what it means to practice self-denial motivated by love?
Apply: What are things that, though they perhaps are due you, you might still be better off relinquishing in order to be a more effective witness for the Lord?
Share: Your friend says it is not fair for the pastor to expect her husband, who is a local elder, to preach for no charge, while the pastor gets paid to preach. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 10:5-22
Study: What sins did Israel commit in the wilderness, and why do the privileges granted to them make their sins even worse? Why must we flee from idolatry?
Apply: An idol doesn’t have to be a stone statue. We can make an idol out of just about anything. What idols, if any, do you need to flee from in your own life?
Share: Your friend says it’s hard to believe 1 Corinthians 10:13 when he keeps trying and trying to overcome his addiction and always failing. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Mark 1-:17-22, Mark 12:38-31, and 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Study: How can 1 Corinthians 10:31 help us have the proper motivation in keeping the Spirit of the law? How can it also help us guard against legalism?
Apply: As you examine your actions and activities over the last week, how many of those actions and activities glorified God? How can we make sure we are glorifying God in all we do?
Share: Your friend says that when we break the commandments, we put ourselves first rather than God and others. and thus making idols of ourselves. What do you tell your friend?
Mission: How can you show and encourage your friends and family to glorify God in their weekly activities?
